He started his journalism career in 1992 as a freelance writer for Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s largest daily national newspaper and soon specialised in air transport. Jens joined Aviation Week and Aviation Daily in 2000 as one of the European correspondents. Later his role was expanded to cover international air transport. In 2013 he was named Managing Editor Commercial.
Jens frequently appears on radio and TV to comment on industry matters. In 2003, he received the Hugo Junkers Award of the German aviation press for his coverage of Fairchild Dornier’s bankruptcy. He was named the country’s top travel and air transport writer by the Travel Industry Club three times. Jens graduated from the Munich School of Journalism.
Two German low-cost airlines, Air Berlin and Hapag-Lloyd Express, posted strong growth in the first six months of the year. Air Berlin said sales surged 23% to EUR564 million (US$687 million) in the first half of the year, as passenger numbers increased by 15% to 6.1 million. The airline expects to carry around 14 million passengers in the full year. Air Berlin does not disclose financial results, since it is privately held.
Air France plans to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 six months later than expected, Air France-KLM Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said at the group's annual shareholder meeting. The airline expects the first aircraft to arrive in November 2007, as opposed to the earlier April delivery date. Spinetta said all future A380 operators have been told that their aircraft will be six months late. Earlier this year, Airbus said that the A380 will be two to six months late (DAILY, June 1).
Low-fare airline Wizz Air yesterday signed a letter of intent to acquire 24 Airbus A320s in an effort to boost its position in the increasingly busy low-fare European airline market. The Polish carrier plans to operate the aircraft in a 180-seat single class configuration. "This purchase order is an important part of Wizz Air's development as the strongest Eastern European airline by expanding our ability to offer our low fares to an ever increasing customer base," CEO Joszef Varadi said.
